Fruit driek



(No Model.) 3 sheets-sheet 1.

R. E. BURNS.

FRUIT DRIBR.

Patented Dec.-27, 1881.

WITNESEEE INVENTER agfrl/J) mi @www m 1 (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

R. E. BURNS.

FRUIT DRIBR.

No. 251,408. Patented Deo. 27,1881.

FIGB- /L .X

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

R. E. BURNS.

FRUIT DR'IER. No. 251,408. Patented Deo. 27,1881.

4 qgmbH- 551:5 INYEN-UR- dc I ffl HW/ @mmj 77W UNITED STATES Partnr OFFICE.

ROBERT E. BURNS, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

FRUIT-DRIER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 251,408, dated December 2,7, 1881.

Application tiled August 25, 1881. (No model.)

To all @rhein it 'may concern Be it known that I, ROBERT E. BURNS, aV citizen of the United States, residing at San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fruit-Driers, of which the following is a specification.

The objects of my invention are, first, to provide a fruit drier so constructed that the operator can regulate the heat and adapt it to the different kinds ot' fruits and vegetables to be treated, and to produce a uniformity ot' temperaturethroughoutail ofthe d rying-chambers while the heat is fully utilized, second, to provide a means whereby the heat can be sluit off from one or all ot' the drying-compartments and little or much fruit be treated in the same machine. l accomplish these objects by the device illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in whichy Figure l is a front elevation partly broken away. Fig. 2 is a plan view, showing partitions beneath drying-compartinent. Fig. 3 is a plan view, showing hot-air openings and their coverings or valves. Fig. 4 is a transverse section, showing deilectors and lower drying-tray. Fig. 5 is a plan view of one of the drying-trays. Fig. 6 is a sectional view on line X X of Fig. 5. Fig. v7 is a front end view of a drying-tray. Fig. S is a. section taken on line Y Y ot' Fig. 5. Fig. 9 is a vert-ical transverse section of my improved dry-house.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Arispa rectangular furnace, in one endoi` which is placed a brick lire-arch, B, open at the rear end, and having the usual door and draftopenings in front. JAlong the sidesand ends ofthe walls ofthe drier I ma-ke openings C C for the admission of 'cold air upon all sides of the combustion and hotair chambers, to be hereinafter more fully described.

The combustion-chamberD consists of a rectangular box of iron, (sheet-iron is preferable,)

which fits within the walls ofthe furnace-cham- 'ber over the brick tire-arch in such a manner that a space of about six inches is left between the outer walls thereof and the inner walls ot' vthe furnace for the admission ot' cold air.

A horizontal partition, D', divides the combustionchamber latwise or longitudinally, and

in thc upper part of the chamberare placed vertical partitions, so as to form lues E' E2 E3,-

which communicate with each other atl opposite ends ofthe chamber; and in one corner ot' the partition D is made anopening, which connects the hot-air chamber with the dues. The front end of this line-chamber is provided with the necessary manholes and a chimney-tine,F. Around the top ot' the furnace-walls aledge is 'formed to support a deflecting-plate, Gr, which is placed directly over the combustionchamber, and forms a hot-airchamber, G', beueath, for storing up the hot air or caloric for use. Through this plate are made openings H at intervals ot' space, or so as to open directl y into the drying-compartments above, to he hereinafter more fully described. The openings are provided with sliding plates or doors H', which admit of the hot air being conducted to anyone or all of the drying-chambers. In place of these openings, slots may be madev in the detlecting-plate at the sides of the lower drying-tray, so as to admit air from the hotair chamber and deiiect it from right to left over the drying-trays by the air impingiiig against the cleats at the sides of the dryingchamber in its passa-ge upward. These slots may be provided with slides in the same manner as the openings H. The top ofthis plate Gr is laid with cement or mortar, 0r other non-conducting material, so as to control and prevent radiation or loss of heat, except through the proper openings, on withdrawal of the slides, and the'top of these sliding plates or doors may be covered with sand when closed, as a further check to the radiation of heat.

Immediately above the hot-air chamber are placed the drying-compartments, which are constructed of wood, and may rest upon aledge made around the outer edge of the wall ot' the furnace, and be provided with doors hinged at their upper orflower ends, so as to open outwardly. To the vertical partitions which divide the drying-chambers I I are connected cleats I' 12, upon which the drying screens or frames are placed. The cleats shown at I' are closely joined to the face of the partition-wall, and

those marked by the letter I2 have a space of roo about three inches left between them and the wall in an alternate manner, as shown, so that the hot air will be deflected from right to left when the dryingtrays and defiectors are in position, to be hereinafter more fullydescribed.

Within each drying-compartment, and resting upon the top of the deiiecting-plate G, I place the peculiarlyconstructed deliectors J J', which consist of two plates, one of metal and one of wood, resting on feet, and placed one above the other, as shown. In the space K formed by the union of these plates a packing of sand, cement, or mortar is made, and over the top ofthe metal plate the wooden delector J' is placed.

The edges of the metal plate may be turned up, so as to form a pan or dish to receive and hold the materials used as a packing.

The wooden plate may be connected to the bottom ofthe rst orlowerdryingtray; or the bottom of this tray may be made of wood, so as to break the force of the heat. By this means the initial or tirst volume of heat from the hot-air chamber is deiieeted, and does not strike the drying-trays above in a direct manner, but is controlled and diffused more generally, so as to graduallyimpinge upon the trays above.

When the sliding plates or doors are kept closed the detiectingplates J-may be dispensed with, and the rear end ofthe first drying-tray may be placed against the rear wall, leaving a space of six inches in front, and the heated air may be admitted through a slot made in the front edge of the deecting-plate G, in which case the heated air will not strike the first tray, but will impinge upon the second tray, which is provided with awooden bottom.

'lhe drying-trays L, I make with double drying-screens L', which are kept separated by rabbets made along the frame.

The top edgeof the frontof the screen fratrie is cutaway, as shown, for removing and replacing the upper screen without disturbing the lower screen or suffering a loss ot heat.

The drying-compartmcnts are provided with hinged doors, which cover the front of each tray when closed. The drying-trays are so placed in the dryiiig-compartments as to detlect the heat from the furnace as it ascends upward in an alternate manner from front to rear-that is to say, the front of one dryingframe is placed so as to be flush with the door or frontof the compartment and leave a space in the rear,between it and the rearwallot' the chamber, by means ofstops a a upon every alternate series of cleats, while the succeeding frame abuts against the rear wall of the chamber and provides a space in front of it, so that the hot air in ascending will be deflected from front to rear ofthe drying-eompartment in its upward passage.

An air-tightfinishing-chamber, N', is formed in the upper part of the compartment by means of sheet-iron partitions N N, the horizontal partition forming the door ot' said chamber, and the rear vertical partition being so arranged as to form one side ot a due, O, for the escape of moisture or an overcharge of heated air. In this upper or finishing chamber I am able, by interchanging the drying-trays, to tinish drying any of the trays from beneath without moisture from the drying products below.

In order to more fully utilize the heated air, the liuc or escape-pipe O is closed, and the heated air, laden withvmoisture from the trays below, is directed through openings R in the rear wall into a containing chamber or iiue, It', formed of a sheet-iron roofI and a wooden bottom.

Above the iron root' or covera drying-chamber, S, is formed, in which products that have been partially dried are placed for the purpose of nishing or completing the drying process. By this construction of an auxiliary chamber having an iron bottom the moisture is not permitted to enter the chamber S, but is carried out by conducting pipes or titles through the rear walls or root', and the heated air passes up through the iron root into the chamber in a dry state.

My dryingcompartments, when constructed of brick or masonry instead ot' wootl and provided wth trays of iron, will form an excellent oven for bakers.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Let-ters Paten t, 1s

l. In a fruit-drier, the combination of the combustion-chamber D, consisting ot an oblong metal box having horizontal iues E' E2E3,

communicating at alternate ends, furnacechamber G', plates G, having openings H and sliding doors H', and detlecting-plates J J', provided with feet, and placed one above the other upon the plate G,substantially as shown and described.

2. The combination, with the combustionehamber D, deflectingplatcs G J J', and chamber I I, separated by horizontal screens, of the air-tight finishing-chamber N' and tlue O, substantially as shownand described.

3. In a drier provided with suitable ilues, the auxiliary drying chamber or compartment S, located in the upper part ot' the drier and provided with a sheet-metal tloor, whereby the heated air,laden with moisture, as it passes up, may be conducted through said iiues and under the auxiliary chamber, and thus utilized, substantially as set forth.

yIn testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 6th day of August, 1881.

ROBERT E. BURNS.

Witnesess: C. W. M. SMITH,

WILMER BRADFORD.

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